Rambukwella clan and face of political rot

Monday, 23 June 2025 02:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Few names, arguably other than the Rajapaksas, have become as emblematic of corruption, entitlement, and moral bankruptcy as that of Keheliya Rambukwella and his family. Once paraded as an aristocratic figure from “old money,” Keheliya has long cultivated the myth that his wealth insulated him from the need to be corrupt. It was a compelling narrative — a man of means who entered public service not to enrich himself, but to serve.

But as the years peeled back the layers, what has emerged is not a paragon of virtue, but a family apparently obsessed with amassing wealth and influence through every conceivable form of abuse and deceit.

Keheliya Rambukwella’s political career is now marred by one scandal after another, each more egregious than the last. Perhaps the most heinous was the procurement of substandard and counterfeit medicines during his tenure as Minister of Health — a decision that not only wasted millions in public funds but cost lives. The audacity to play with the health and safety of the Sri Lankan people in pursuit of profit should have marked the end of his public life. Instead, he continues to operate with impunity, surviving a no confidence motion easily.

Then came revelations of falsified employment and ghost workers used to siphon public funds, a practice that has become all too common among Sri Lanka’s entrenched political elite. Not to be outdone, Keheliya reportedly claimed tens of millions of rupees from the President’s Fund for his own medical expenses after sustaining injuries under suspicious and allegedly nefarious circumstances. The Fund, meant to support the poorest and most vulnerable in times of medical need, became yet another trough from which the elite fed.

But this web of entitlement is not limited to Keheliya alone. His children, too, have reaped the rewards of Sri Lanka’s culture of nepotism and political favouritism. His son, with no notable cricketing merit, was fast-tracked into the national cricket team, a slap in the face to every hardworking, overlooked athlete in the country. Another daughter, lacking the necessary qualifications, was handpicked for a diplomatic post in New York, bypassing standard recruitment processes and making a mockery of the Foreign Service’s integrity.

This is not just one corrupt man or one corrupt family. The Rambukwellas are simply a reflection of the deeper rot that has hollowed out the political system. They are the symptom, not the disease. But they can and must become the cautionary tale that jolts the judiciary to action. Holding them accountable is not about political revenge but it is about justice, precedent, and deterrence.

If our country is to ever break free from the shackles of cronyism and systemic corruption, it must begin by setting an example. The Rambukwella family must be thoroughly investigated, prosecuted, and held to the highest standards of accountability. Their wealth and privilege should not shield them from the consequences of their actions.

There are many families that have enriched themselves at the expense of the public. They must be brought to account and the precedence set for future leaders, including those who are holding office at the moment, to the consequences of playing with public trust. Let the name Rambukwella not only be remembered for the corruption but as a turning point for justice.

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